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On the sidelines, Pam wasn’t sure exactly what was happening down the beach at Lisa’s cottage. Her stepdaughter, Laura Long, who lived in a cottage between Lisa’s and Pam’s, had advised Pam to keep clear of the drama.
“If there’s anything you need to be aware of, Lisa will let you know,” Laura had said.
Finished with the coffee, Pam donned a winter coat, gloves, and a scarf, and called to her two dogs. “Let’s walk.”
Obediently, they came quickly. It was chilly out, but not so cold they needed doggie coats. Heavy fog obscured the sun, but it would hopefully burn off and they’d have an Indian summer. She longed for signs of the fall, too. Squatting, she attached the leashes to the dogs’ collars, grabbed plastic grocery bags to hold trash and beachcombing treasures and another for dog poo, and she was off.
That morning, she’d head north to avoid running into any family members. Stepping out onto the sand, she was immediately met with the heady and familiar smell of the briny sea carried on the wind. The dogs led her down the wooden walkway her late husband, Jack, had built. Soon, her jacket sparkled with the falling mist. The tide was on its way out, and she lingered at the water’s edge, her eyes focusing on the sand beneath her feet.
“Oh! Green glass!”
It was rare to find something right in front of her house. She bent down and dug the piece out of the silt. Just the tip of it was exposed, and she was surprised at the size, almost a complete bottle bottom with perfectly smooth, surf-tumbled edges. Finding an intact bottom was a first. Straightening up, she examined the piece. There was a number and a mark. She’d research it later.
Sticking the piece in the bag, she continued on, the dogs sniffing the sand. Up ahead, she noticed black grit over a few feet of the beach, and upon closer examination, it appeared to be fragments of black plastic. Squatting again, she fingered the pieces and saw shards of glass.
Small shells left behind by the retreating surf and another, smaller piece of green glass added to her haul from the morning beachcombing expedition. She was almost to the causeway when she heard someone call her name. Turning to see who it was, she saw the familiar figure of her current boyfriend, attorney Dan Chua, running toward her, waving. There was no mistaking Dan’s tall, buff, and dark figure. Even after all the time they’d spent together over the years, he still took her breath away.
“What are you doing out?” Pam asked, waving back.
He caught up with her, leaning over to kiss her on the mouth. “I heard on the news that Lily Porter didn’t show up for work today, and her parents reported her missing. Alan called and said her parents mentioned my name, and now I’m sweating it.”
This news took Pam by surprise. Nothing usually disturbed Dan. “Why should you worry? You dated her for a brief time. She broke up with you. Not the other way around.”
“I don’t like to be involved,” he said, taking a leash from her and grabbing her free hand.
“You aren’t,” she replied, continuing to walk north. “You haven’t seen her since my Memorial Day picnic. That was months ago. She probably got sick of the coffee shop and took off for a long weekend. Young people aren’t as responsible about their jobs.”
“I don’t know about that. She loved the bakery. She hated Adam and Hocus, but baking and all that she loved. I have a bad feeling about it.”
“Don’t tell anyone else about your feelings. You can’t trust feelings,” Pam said. “Come on. Run with me.”
“Torture,” he shouted when she sprang into action. “I can’t keep up with you.”
“Your legs are twice as long as mine,” she called, laughing. “Lengthen your stride!”
They ran up to the causeway, Pam getting there first and waiting, hardly out of breath. The dogs sat, recuperating. Dan tried to remain upright, hands on his knees, panting.
“You’re killing me.”
“Stop it. You’re so dramatic.”
“No, I’m not. You’re in better shape than I am.”
“Every time I go to the gym, you’re there,” Pam said, laughing. “Stop flirting with the babes in the weight room and do some aerobics.”
“Do it with me.”
“I will not,” she said, tugging on his arm. “I get enough exercise. Let’s head back. I’ll make you coffee.”
He straightened up, and they started the walk back to her house.
“I want your legs around my waist when we get there,” he said.
“Let’s race back,” she said, looking at him with her famous poker face.
“No! That would defeat the purpose.”
She took his hand and pulled him along. “You forgot about Lily, didn’t you?”
